THE journey along Panyu Road begins at Z98, a stunning structure full of imagination and inspiration. Startled by its unparalleled exterior design, you may find yourself too distracted to even keep walking. But to continue is worthwhile, as Panyu Road has much more to offer. Just on the opposite side of Z98 is a mini complex composed of an elegant Italian restaurant, a casual but obviously meticulously designed hotel and the old home of renowned Hungarian architect Laszlo Hudec whose style is stamped on elegant structures throughout Shanghai. The artistic beauty of this area is overwhelmingly abundant; jointly, it could fulfill your appetite for delicate art deco as well as delicious food.

Randomly lined with residential houses, street stands and greasy spoon joints, the Panyu Road environs are symptomatic of many such streets in the downtown area with the lived environment inaccessible to the passer-by. A splendid art center is a timely relief, with its fashionable modern style and facilities providing visual and tasty options. A gelato store offers welcome respite. Various desserts sold here can absolutely cheer you up, and provide a happy, relaxing end to your city tour.


Z58 lights up the corner

This building situated unassumingly at an intersection should be by no means neglected. Previously a vacant watch factory, it was transformed into a one-of-a-kind architectural marvel through the fascinating design of well-known Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. His influence resulted from Zhongtai Lighting Group, a domestic lighting company, wanting to build the best commercial outlet in China. Kuma's design won against many other bids with his "dialogue" theme °?-- the structure was aimed at a dialogue with the environment, comprising a green, plant-filled facade, a water lobby and a waterfall. The name Z58 is derived from the first letter of the company's name and the number in its address. As explained by the architect, Z58 is intended to pay homage to light, acting as a laboratory to examine the relationship between buildings and light, and demonstrate the various, sometimes magical, phenomenon of light.

Address: 58 Panyu Rd


Venexia Restaurant

Located at the crossing of Pingwu and Panyu roads, Venexia Restaurant should not be missed for its unique and aristocratic dining surroundings. With Italian music gently playing in the background, sparkling masks hanging on the wall, and, most importantly, the mouth-watering scent of dishes floating in the air, this restaurant exudes the authentic taste of Italy. Food here is basically Italian with the variation of twists on Mediterranean style adopted by Armando Capochiani, the native Italian chef. Capochiani, a veteran whose cooking experience dates back through the generations all the way to the 1970s, aims to offer diners a real sense of Italy. Voted as a top chef by a Shanghai magazine, his cuisine draws diners from home and abroad. Opened in March 2007, what distinguishes Venexia from other Western restaurants is its original sources of ingredients. Even vegetables are directly imported from Italy together with all the dairy products and olive oil. Price range: appetizers (78-168 yuan); soup (58-98 yuan); desserts, (38-168 yuan).

Address: 127 Panyu Rd

Opening hours: 11am-2:30pm; 6pm-11pm

Tel: 5258-7209


La Faeux Casual Hotel

This property claims the lofty accolade of being the first designer hotel built in Shanghai with its design team endeavoring to "keep a smart balance between fashion and ultra-modern details and idiosyncratic ideas." Each hotel room is of a distinctive style -- the decorations, theme colors, furniture and overall arrangements of all the 32 rooms are distinctively different. As a result, the hotel conveys a sense of simplicity, romance and mystery. Located at one end of Panyu Road, the three-year-old boutique hotel features a range of accommodation from single to standard rooms including a garden and a balcony. Targeting white-collar and middle-class customers who are happy to pay for quality accommodation, the operators have spared no effort in pandering to customers' privacy needs and guaranteeing a unique living experience. The rooms are priced in the range from 258 yuan to 1,579 yuan. The summer package currently costs 300 yuan.

Address: 127 Panyu Rd

Tel: 5258-8585


Hudec's Residence

In 1933, famed Hungarian architect Laszlo Hudec moved into this villa with his wife and three children. The self-designed property is a Tudor-style three-story mansion in which the Hudec family lived until just before World War II. It was later rented to the Consul General of Germany as an official residence. The building now belongs to the State Tourism Bureau which used it as an office until recently and the garden is now part of a school. The necessary renovation and preservation for such an old masterpiece has been neglected over the years and the structure now appears shabby to the extent of rundown, emiting a certain kind of ghostly tinge. Only a "Heritage Architecture" plaque on the western side gives a hint of its glorious historical background. But it is worthy of a look because visitors can still discern the hallmarks of a master who single-handedly shaped the face of Shanghai back in the 1930s and 1940s.

Address: 129 Panyu Rd


Wills Gym

Like many other fitness clubs, Wills provides its customers with a wide range of courses, such as aerobic gymnastics, Latin dance, karate, yoga, zumba and gymstick. But there is something extra that is special here. Besides the regular courses, members will also get an opportunity to participate in other activities including social exchanges, outdoor camping and festive parties. Each customer will have tailored for them a personal and professional body building plan based on their specific fitness levels and needs. As it is a newly built complex, the quality of fixtures and fittings is state-of-the-art and the staff's expertise is unrivalled. Small though it is in physical space, the gym provides exercise fanatics with plenty of room to push themselves to personal limits.

Opening hours: 9am-9pmAddress: 387 Panyu RdTel: 6281-5639


Shanghai Film Art Center & City Shop

Built a decade ago, the center has the honor of being the first five-star cinema in Shanghai. It's also one of the biggest in China, occupying a total area of 140,000 square meters. It has been the main venue for the internationally renowned Shanghai International Film Festival every year and it guarantees an extraordinary movie-watching experience with first-class audio-visual facilities. The cinema complex consists of nine separate movie theaters as well as six stylish meeting rooms. Its 1,100-square-meter lobby is a magnificent area for thematic exhibitions and ceremonies. Located in the basement is a City Shop, one of the leading retailers of imported food in Shanghai. Founded in 1995, the shop is part of a chain which carries nearly 10,000 different products, with 80 percent imported from abroad, including organically produced vegetables and herbs and farm-fresh agricultural products. The store also bakes on a daily basis, specializing in European-style breads, cakes and tempting pastries.

Address: 160 Xinhua Rd

Opening hours: 9am-10pm; 8am-10pm(City Shop)

Tel: 6280-6088; 400-811-1797(City Shop)


Iceason Italian Handmade Gelato

Iceason, which likes to be known for its "natural, fresh and healthy traits," is a popular refreshments outlet with nearby residents and people who come to watch movies in the Shanghai Film Art Center. Newly opened in May 2008, the business offers customers a great variety of products, including Italian handmade gelato ices, double yoghurt mixes, full-flavor milk shakes, fresh juice, gelato pizza, coffee and tea. Iceason's products are all low-fat, or fat-free, and therefore customers won't be bothered too much about putting on extra kilograms after eating ice cream to excess. As items served in the shop are mostly marked with their calorie content and what nutrition levels the menu offers, customers are easily able to identify which line is best for their taste and personal health. New flavors are listed every month, so there's a regular element of surprise in selection and taste waiting for customers. The business offers a delivery service but it is limited to those who live within 10 minutes' walking distance -- so the products stay cold and refreshing -- and the minimum order should be 50 yuan.

Opening hours: 10am-10:30pmAddress: 1/F, 160 Xinhua RdTel: 6281-0413